It’s that time of year again when the recipe books come out with all of my favorites marked and a few new finds getting a second look over before we decide what to have for the annual feast. It’s the day we catch up with family and stuff ourselves full of food and not worry about very much at all. Perfect after a year of rushing around and the usual drama, the same as everyone else I imagine.
Last year I did a ham with a fabulous glaze and that’s a definite for this year as well. The maple syrupy goodness turned out to be incredibly moreish and I can’t go past it this year.
Since the weather is so hot here in the Hunter Valley, salads always make the list but it’s my meringue nest eggs that are top priority for me. My family love them and I never ever make enough according to them. Last year we had them with fresh raspberries and blueberries and the most decadent caramel sauce. Who says its fattening? It’s the one day of the year that I don’t give a fig about counting calories!
I also like to give home-made gifts to friends as well. Today was our writers group Christmas lunch. The girls all got a jar of Nigella Lawson’s Rocky Road. Scrumptious! My granddaughter decorated the jars and made tags for me – she’s so much craftier than I am so I let her have fun with it. I wasn’t disappointed either.
Maybe because we don’t have the snow and hot toddies of the northern hemisphere, I’ve always had a hankering for a white Christmas. One year I’m going to have one too! Its deciding whether or not I can stand to be cold for the amount of time I’d need to be away that’s holding me back. I’m not a fan of freezing my toes off. But to keep me amused until I brave the chilly weather, I dipped my toes into the Christmas stories with the first in my new Tule Publishing series, The Moore Sisters of Montana, Christmas Glitter. Here’s a taste of what’s in store for my characters, Dakota and Adam. After a rough year involving a serious car accident, painful recovery and broken engagement, Dakota Moore moves to Cherry Lake to rebuild her life. To embrace her new community, she volunteers to coordinate the annual Christmas tree gala. Adam Clements has come home to help his mother run the family business while his father recovers from a heart attack. For the last decade, he's been a high-flying soccer player, enjoying the life that comes with his popularity. But something is missing and he can't put his finger on it... until he returns to Cherry Lake and remembers the feeling of home. Adam tries to keep his distance because he knows he'll be leaving, but he can't deny his attraction to Dakota. With the countdown to Christmas on, can Dakota convince Adam that his home is right there in Cherry Lake, with her? www.amazon.com/Christmas-Glitter-Moore-Sisters-Montana-ebook/dp/B076MK2MXY/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
I was so excited to write this book featuring a Christmas tree gala and auction. Even the scene with the snow didn’t put me off making plans for a Christmas trip in the near future so I can get my taste of winter weather. I can imagine the hot food, the yummy roast potatoes, hot toddies and chocolate. It’s going to be amazing. So long as I can keep my toes warm.
Tell me, what will you be eating for Christmas this year? I’ve joined with a group of talented authors to bring you a fabulous promotion in time for Christmas. An Amazon gift card and copies of all our ebooks up for grabs! Yesterday Annie Seaton started the blog hop. You can find her post here www.annieseaton.net/from-the-chair/a-christmas-story-for-you-from-my-chair http://bit.ly/2A4bbkK
88 Comments
Susanne
11/24/2017 11:53:34 pm
Love homemade gifts. Now you've got me thinking ...
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11/25/2017 01:23:19 am
Oh, that food! Had me salivating. And 'Christmas Glitter' sounds fab too
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11/27/2017 05:37:14 pm
Thanks Carla. I'm a bit of a foodie this time of year.
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Suzanne Cass
11/25/2017 07:27:50 pm
Hot toddies and chocolate sound awesome for Christmas
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11/27/2017 05:38:51 pm
And I can imagine the snow outside the window too Suzanne.
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Rose O’
11/26/2017 12:42:48 am
Christmas will be crazy but fun this year. Hope to read and narrate a book or two!
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Janelle Van Bommel
11/26/2017 12:47:00 am
I will be eating chicken , maybe salad depending on the day I might roast some vegetables instead .Followed by dessert Trifle and Pavlova .2 different taste buds at home lol .
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11/27/2017 05:41:02 pm
We always have a pavlova. Its tradition in our house.
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Lori R
11/26/2017 05:03:55 am
We will be having ham this year. Love hot chocolate.
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Kathleen O
11/26/2017 05:21:36 am
Ham is always on the dinner table for Christmas, as well as Turkey. It's a must have.
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Deborah D
11/26/2017 05:28:20 am
Sounds like a wonderful read.
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Kim thorne
11/26/2017 06:16:59 am
That food looks so good I love all the food at Christmas.
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Robbie Bauldree
11/26/2017 07:19:42 am
We select several names from the Angel Tree and buy for children.
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Robyn K
11/26/2017 10:01:41 am
We will be having turkey and all the sides for Christmas. Thank you for this chance.
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sandy haber
11/26/2017 10:06:52 am
I'll eat almost anything!
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Kelly Petsche
11/26/2017 10:10:52 am
Ok - I will (hopefully) have a white Christmas since I live in the Midwest USA but it’s never a guarantee. Your story sounds great. Can’t wait to read it.
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Michelle Bauer
11/26/2017 10:39:37 am
The best gifts are the ones that are thought of with love...
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Mary Preston
11/26/2017 01:13:41 pm
I'd like to experience a white Christmas at least once.
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Deborah D
11/27/2017 05:05:28 am
Snow is a must on Christmas then it can be spring
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Jennifer Cowan
11/27/2017 07:08:27 am
Every Christmas morning we have these wonderful, made from scratch cinnamon rolls. My grandpa used to make them for special occasions when he was alive. Now my sister and her boys make them for Christmas morning. We also have scrambled eggs, sausage, hand-made biscuits and gravy. Then we have your traditional turkey, ham, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, rolls, green bean casserole, etc for dinner. Of course, there are pies too!
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kim charlton
11/27/2017 07:16:13 am
That ham looks incredible!!
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11/27/2017 05:50:01 pm
It was great Kim. I jus have to remember which recipe I used for this year!
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Sarah
11/27/2017 10:33:59 am
This story sounds great!
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11/27/2017 05:50:51 pm
Thanks Sarah. A moving feast sounds wonderful to me!
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Kathy Davis
11/27/2017 01:01:36 pm
I'm excited for Christmas this year. I'm looking forward to spending time with the family together.
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bn100
11/27/2017 01:20:06 pm
tasty ham
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Richard Brandt
11/27/2017 03:10:44 pm
"It's the onetime of the year I don't give a fig about counting calories."
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Renaye
11/27/2017 06:50:28 pm
Our go-to has become prime rib on Christmas Eve and eggs benedict Christmas morning.
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Maria Malaveci
11/28/2017 03:47:24 am
I always love on the sides! Mashed Potatoes and Corn!
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12/25/2017 11:25:38 am
Maria, can you please contact me via the contacts page here on my website with your email address please for a copy of Christmas Glitter.
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Victoria
11/29/2017 07:36:28 pm
Thanks for sharing!
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Eliza Olsen
12/2/2017 12:37:35 am
Wishing you and yours a Happy Holiday Season!
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Lesley Walsh
12/2/2017 01:27:07 am
I think it’s going to be duck this year, with roast potatoes, stuffing, vegetables and lashings of gravy followed by Christmas Pudding with Cointreau cream.
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Jessie
12/2/2017 08:46:38 am
Delicious looking ham you have there! Still deciding on the menu
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Mallory D.
12/2/2017 05:34:52 pm
Ham, mashed potatoes, asparagus, and sweet potato casserole!
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Andrea Stoeckel
12/3/2017 08:09:25 am
We do minimal holiday stuff. Getting ready to move so it just might be pizza ... When I was growing up it would be goose, turkey or ham. We eat turkey all year around, but ham is not an option anymore.
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12/4/2017 11:43:23 am
Your book sounds wonderful! That ham looks amazing. I always cook a breakfast casserole in the crock pot overnight for us to enjoy on Christmas morning (and throughout the day).
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Suzannah Clark
12/4/2017 11:48:17 am
We love making homemade Christmas cookies. My favorite ones are called Christmas balls. They have ground up vanilla wafers, chocolate chips, pecans and orange juice in them. They have to sit for 2 weeks to ripen and then my family fights over how many each of us gets.
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12/6/2017 10:08:10 pm
I saw a recipe for these the other day and wondered what they were like.
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sandy haber
12/7/2017 02:31:22 pm
Love getting goodies in the mail -- got a big basket today!! Books are even nicer.............
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Nancy Burgess
12/9/2017 07:22:47 pm
I'm looking forward to our big family Christmas Dinner.
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Debbie Martin
12/9/2017 10:56:59 pm
We will be having ham this year (bust cheesy grits for breakfast)!
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Margie Rico
12/10/2017 08:47:43 am
Merry Christmas Ann!
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Deborah Sisk
12/11/2017 04:03:57 pm
I love Christmas. Thanks for the chance. The food looks delicious.
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Lori Raines
12/11/2017 06:49:40 pm
We will be having ham.
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Laura Boon Russell
12/15/2017 12:56:15 am
I can guarantee I’ll be eating ham and chocolate but everything else remains to be seen. :)
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Anne
12/15/2017 05:34:53 pm
We're having a ham too, though it's usually a beef roast. Ham was just so much more reasonable this year.
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Sandy Lipinski
12/16/2017 06:11:21 am
An air fryer or pressure cooker doesn't heat up the house. Hubby loves them.
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Kara Vaughan Marks
12/18/2017 09:45:09 am
What a beautiful ham! Merry Christmas!
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Karen Leeman
12/19/2017 04:28:27 am
Loved your stories!! I also like doing homemade gifts for friends!!!
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12/25/2017 11:24:28 am
Karen, can you contact me via my website contact list with your email address please for a copy of Christmas Glitter.
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Carol
12/19/2017 11:43:57 pm
That glazed ham looks amazing!
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Helen Picone
12/21/2017 05:38:57 pm
I did hams like that at one time. But pinned on pineapple circles after adding the glaze.
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Nancy Luebke
12/23/2017 02:52:10 pm
Homemade gifts are always a nice touch.Happy Holidays to all.
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